Dear Dr. SerVaas: My sister has had a series of small strokes over the years. As a result, her hands and feet have become numb, and her hands are clumsy.Is there any help for this condition? It would be great if she could recover the mobility of her hands and feet.Sylvia NeubeckerCadillac, MichiganDear Dr. SerVaas: An article appeared in your Jan./Feb. '99 "Medical Mailbox" concerning an experimental therapy to repair brain damage from stroke with transplanted nerve cells.I am wondering if researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have reached any conclusions or success regarding this project. My husband had a stroke in November 1997 which damaged his left leg.Mrs. Frances KobernickPompano Beach, FloridaDear Readers: Dr. Douglas Kondziolka and his colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh report that 8 of 12 stroke patients in their study noted improvement in strength, sensation, and coordination. Scores on objective assessment scales improved in 6 patients.In the groundbreaking research, doctors injected millions of healthy nerve cells into the brains of stroke victims. A larger, multicenter trial is being planned to study the effectiveness of nerve cell transplants. For more information, interested readers may e-mail Dr. Kondziolka at kbell@neuronet.pitt.edu.Other evidence suggests that a new form of rehabilitation can help restore function and mobility even years after a stroke. Constraint-induced movement therapy utilizes thick mitts or slings to limit use of "good" limbs. Patients then practice repetitive tasks with their disabled arms or legs. Doctors at the Birmingham VA Medical Center say the intensive therapy--six hours a day for two to three weeks--may be stimulating healthy nerve cells to sprout new connections to those affected by stroke.
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